Frequently Asked Questions about New Zealand

Expats moving to New Zealand usually have many questions, often about what to expect from expat life. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about living in New Zealand.

Is it expensive to live in New Zealand?

The cost of living in New Zealand is entirely dependent on one's salary, lifestyle and dependants. Generally, the cost of living in New Zealand is found to be quite high for expats, but this opinion is also relative to where they were living prior to moving to New Zealand. 

Is it difficult to acquire permanent residency in New Zealand?

There are many ways to acquire permanent residency in New Zealand, but expats will have to live and work in the country for a number of years before they are eligible to apply. New Zealand has many different types of visa's and work permits available for initial entrance into the country. Certain requirements will then need to be fulfilled before one is able to become a permanent resident. 

Is it difficult to get a job in New Zealand? 

Expats moving to New Zealand may struggle to find work as available jobs need to be offered to New Zealand citizens first. That said, as the population of the country is so small, there are often skill shortages in particular industries, where the government will specifically outsource foreigners to fill the role. 

Does New Zealand have special needs schools?  

Most schools in New Zealand have teachers and programmes to assist children with special needs. There are also schools throughout the country that specifically cater to special-needs children. 

How far away is Australia?

‘Not far enough!’ goes the Kiwi joke. In reality, Australia is a little over 1,200 km (745 miles) to the west. Flight time from Auckland to Sydney is two and a half hours, with frequent departures throughout the day.

How safe is New Zealand?

New Zealand is a very safe place, coming in second on the Global Peace index in 2020. Although it has among the lowest rates of robbery and violent crime in the developed world, there are still incidents of crime, so expats should take the usual precautions.

What percentage of the population is Maori?

Around 15 percent of the people are Maori, 75 percent are of European descent and the remainder is made up of Pacific Islanders and Asian immigrants, among other ethnicities.